DCA provided a submission to the Australian government’s Inquiry into issues related to menopause and perimenopause. We focused on the economic consequences of menopause and perimenopause such as impacts on workforce participation and economic security for women at retirement as well as raising awareness within the workplace.
We highlighted the complexity and diversity of lived experience and the critical importance of centring this experience in any dialogue and negotiations with employers. Younger women for example, or those undergoing medical treatments will have a different life experience which should be considered. We pointed to intersectionality issues for women who may experience compounded marginalisation and the economic consequences that invariably follow.
Importantly, DCA recommended collecting intersectional data to provide a more comprehensive picture of the lived experience of diverse women and cautioned on the risks associated with policies or employers using this data to discriminate against women.